The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Year C) – Homily (2025)

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C
Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 (4b)
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11b-17
June 22, 2025

Today we celebrate what in Latin is called Corpus Christi.  In English we call it The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Whatever language one uses, what we celebrate is the Real Presence of Jesus!

When we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, every Mass celebrates the gift of his Body and Blood for us.  We should not take this gift for granted.  Today’s feast brings it to the forefront of our thoughts.

Protestants who do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist think the Catholic Church made up this teaching.  Our belief in the Real Presence is biblical and it is from Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper.

Paul wants to be clear who he received the Eucharist from.  He says, “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.”

Jesus says this is my Body…this is my Blood.  In faith, we believe. 

In faith we also receive Jesus’ words, “Do this in memory.”  In faith, we know that what Jesus celebrated at the Last Supper is to be repeated.  Paul writes that when we “eat this bread and drink the cup,” we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. 

Paul doesn’t make this up.  Jesus himself says the bread as his Body, given up for us.  Jesus says the wine in the chalice is his Blood, poured out for us.  It is on the Cross that He gives his Body for us and his Blood is poured out for us.

Jesus gives us the Eucharist as food for our souls.

Do you realize what you receive when you come forth for Communion?

If you do, it should change everything about the way you look at things.  What is more important that what we celebrate at Mass?

When we understand that at Mass we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus and receiving his Body and Blood, we should want to be here every week.

When we know it is Jesus we are receiving, we should willingly fast for an hour before in reverence to prepare ourselves.

When we know it is Jesus we are receiving, we should take the gum out of our mouths before we enter church.

When we know it is Jesus’ sacrifice we are celebrating, in reverence we should come dressed for something special.

When we know it is Jesus we are receiving, we come forth in solemn reverence focusing on what we are about to receive, not who is and isn’t at church.

When we know it is Jesus we are receiving, we bow in humility before we receive and, as St. Cyril of Jerusalem wrote in the fourth century, we place one hand over the other to make a throne to receive Jesus.  When we receive him, we stop moving to show reverence and care. 

When we know it is Jesus we are receiving, we respond to the minister’s words, “The Body of Christ,” by saying “Amen,” not “thank you.” 

Amen means “I believe.”  When we say “amen” to the words “The Body of Christ,” we are saying we know and believe it is Jesus we receive.

Then, we return to our pews grateful to our Lord for what He has given us.

When we know it is Jesus present in the Eucharist, we do our part to either help those who cannot bring themselves to church get here or we do our part to make sure they can receive Jesus.

When we know Jesus is present in the Eucharist, we seek to spend time in Adoration to be with him.

This Sunday we have our annual Eucharistic Procession at the end of our 10 am Mass.  What is the point of a Eucharistic Procession?

It is to witness to our believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist.  The greater the number of people, the greater the witness.

In processing through the neighborhood with the Blessed Sacrament, we are saying we believe the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus. 

Two years ago, when we had our first recent Eucharistic Procession, some were some children who saw us and asked what we were doing.  One of our parishioners stopped and told them.  I hope and pray that a seed was planted in those children that will one day bring them to the Eucharist.

I think of the people we pass in their yards, who when they see the Blessed Sacrament, stop what they are doing and make the Sign of the Cross.

I think of the girl last year who I saw later that evening when I went to give Last Rites to her grandfather who was dying.  She said she was in the parking lot to the state park when our Eucharistic Procession went by.

She asked what we were doing.  I told her it was a Eucharistic Procession.  Her reply was that she knew it had to be something special. 

It must have been a grace-filled moment for her.  Why else would she ask about it when her grandfather, who was a faithful parishioner and volunteer, was dying?

I have no doubt that Jesus is present in the Eucharist.  The knowledge of this starts with Jesus’ words at the Last Supper and his discourse on the Eucharist in chapter 6 of John’s gospel. 

Add to this knowledge the faith that the Lord gives us and we know and believe Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.